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Extreme Athlete gets a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

by DVT Survivor Mike Fitzgerald
January, 2013

As I write this story, I just took a pain pill, due to my calcaneus fracture and tibial plateau break. I have been doing self rehab since insurance company has failed me.

I'm a 38 year old extreme athlete who had never broken a bone in my body despite having participated in many physical competitions, but as I write to you, I realize that this danger can happen to anyone.

On September 5, 2012, I crashed on my downhill mountain bike coming in for a landing which was not as big as some others I have performed . The break was a high impact break, and my leg went numb immediately. Luckily my friend was able to utilize his truck to get me to the ER. At the ER I was told that I crushed my tibial plateau and cracked my heel. I was instructed to locate my ortho doctor. The ortho doctor was helpful, so as I awaited for the scheduled appointment, I developed severe pain in my calf and swelling occurred. The doctor told me to go to the closest ER and get an ultrasound. The ultrasound was excruciating and was positive for a DVT . On Sept 10 I was operated on for a DVT and was coerced into getting a IVC filter. I really wish I had been given other options after I have read many studies of these filters becoming unreliable. On Sept 11, I was operated on to repair the tibial plateau. I was administered heparin and pain meds. My loyal girlfriend was with me every step of the way, and the hospital allowed her to stay day and night with me. I'm now home trying to establish consistent home nursing so I can have my warfarin levels measured.

I can't believe this is happening but I'm alive after a DVT to tell this story. I'm scared of the procedure that was performed on me, because I now have a foreign object within my vein. I pray for healing and pray for other families that have lost loved ones not given the chance that I have been given. I go through pain spurts and still take pain medication as needed.